Kiernan Running To Keep EG Affordable
Mike Kiernan, the only candidate who grew up in East Greenwich, is running for re-election to the Town Council.
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Mike Kiernan wants to make sure East Greenwich can remain “home” for the people who’ve lived here all their lives. That’s why he’s running for a third term on the Town Council, he said in response to a candidate questionnaire emailed to all council candidates.
“I want to try to help the people who love this town as much as I do be able to stay here,” he said. I want to help create an environment that understands that our community is as great as it is because of the work and care of the people who have been here for many years.”
He said taxes are a big issue for people in East Greenwich. “The powers . . . that fight for every last dime for school programs seem to disregard our neighbors who don’t have kids in our schools. A $600 hike in property taxes may not seem like much to many, but as it has been told to me by many of my neighbors, "That’s Christmas."
Kiernan said it comes down to spending on schools. “We want the very best for our kids but I believe that we need to look closer at tax increases that primarily go towards the school side of the budget.”
He doesn’t mince words about the referendum on the ballot asking if the Fire District should be merged with the town. “I think this idea is politics at its worst. There has been a comprehensive study that has shown unequivocally that the taxpayers would not save a dime if the entities are merged. Further, if they were merged, our existing firefighters would not be guaranteed their jobs after the merger. I think that is unacceptable.”
Kiernan doesn’t think the town side of government should be reduced any further. Instead, he thinks any future cuts need to come from the schools side. “Any reductions have to start with the schools, whose budgets have been increased every year since I have been on the Council,” he said.
In the relationship between the town and New England Tech, Kiernan gives a shout out to Council President Michael Isaacs in forging that relationship. Going forward, he said, “We need to . . . keep this relationship and . . . reap the benefits we negotiated for several years ago. Meaning, use of the fields they anticipate building and the library and technical services they have promised in our agreement.”
When it comes to engaging residents in the workings of government, Kiernan said, “People have to get engaged on their own and I encourage them to do so. It makes my job a lot easier when I hear from my neighbors about what they want or don’t want done in our managing of our Town.”
When asked why residents should vote for him, Kiernan said,
“Because I care about the woman who calls me to say that she can’t buy Christmas gifts for her grandchildren because her taxes went up $600 last year. Because I care about the family on Duke Street who complains about the noise on the water in the summer. Because I understand the impact of bringing the chief of police together with our neighbors to solve noise problems with businesses, churches and other neighbors. Because I refuse to vote for million dollar renovations to the high school library that students can’t use. Because I refuse to vote for a three plus million dollar construction project at Meadowbrook Farms School that offers no guarantees of any solutions. Because I care about the London Bridge School. I have lived here for most of my life and I refuse to allow this town to be taken over by outsiders. I may lose every vote 4-1, but I won’t go down without a fight.”
Mike Kiernan is one of six people seeking a term on the five-person Town Council. East Greenwich Patch is publishing responses to questionnaires from all the candidates this week. To read Mike Kiernan's full questionnaire responses, click here.
You can read about candidates Jean Ann Guliano here, Jeff Cianciolo here, Michael Isaacs here, Mark Gee here, and Brad Bishop here.
Lynn Krim
9:32 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Mike Kiernan is the ONLY voice locals have on the Town Council. He is the only one with the courage to speak out against the irresponsible spending spree of the School Committee. I was there the night they voted to spend millions to fix a floor in a school built on a swamp that will probably sink or be torn down before the bond is ever paid off…..and like he said, there were no guarantees forth coming it was going to work. The committee members sat there with the contractor absolutely silent when Mike asked them for guarantees. They had no answer. Still they got away with it.
Also, I believe I read somewhere there was a plan to move the 3rd grade in Meadowbrook out to another school as the school population has dwindled and they need to consolidate, but for some reason, that was squelched. Hmmmmmm?
I encourage all you locals to make the effort to get out to vote for Mike Kiernan and go to the meetings.
Lets keep East Greenwich affordable for those of us who were born here!
Elizabeth McNamara
9:37 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Lynn, about Meadowbrook and third graders, the plan is to move third graders from both Frenchtown and Meadowbrook to Hanaford and to Eldredge next year (2013-14).
Lynn Krim
9:52 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Thanks Elizabeth. So that means it's even more of a waste of money. Eldredge, where my father was a member of the first graduating class in 1926) continues to take care of business.
Tom
11:21 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
"I have lived here for most of my life and I refuse to allow this town to be taken over by outsiders."
Thankfully Mr. Kiernan runs as a republican in this republican town; since I doubt he would get elected with a comment like this. I understand Mike and his wife grew up here and he is proud of that but this town since the 60's/early 70's when 95 was complete has been outsiders coming here to raise their kids in a good environment. I agree with him on the fire board and other issues, but this bashing of "outsiders" and of the school system as the problem has to stop.
Neal McNamara
1:26 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
I respect Mr. Kiernan's point of view, and understand where he is coming from. However, I suspect that despite the fact that I have lived in East Greenwich for 23 years, was a member of the Planning Board for 10 years, have volunteered on many municipal issues, and have two children who graduated from EGHS and a third at Cole, I am, and will always be, an outsider to him. Does he consider that perhaps those of us who have moved here could love the Town as much as he does? The way he expresses his position is unhelpful and polarizing.
Judy Bailey
11:24 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Neal, As a 52 year resident (I'm now 72) I can attest to the practice of the natives being intolerant of '"newcomers".It's certainly not a good campaign tactic in 2012 and I'm surprised anyone would use it. I don't think Mr. Kiernan is aware of it's negative effects,
EGRealEstateM
2:56 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Is this the "same" Mike Kiernan who so proudly DIDN'T stand up for the residents of Lillibridge plat during the Cole Construction Project while it destoyed neighborhood homes. I guess no "townies" live in that area and maybe they don't celibrate Christmas. The guy is the cosummate politician...all talk no action!....vote for him? Not!
bwg
5:19 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Protecting the status quo of the fire district (which is politics at its worst indeed) and against supporting our schools? He doesn't have my vote. Not to mention his refusal "to allow this town to be taken over by outsiders?" Seriously? You sound lie a pompous snob. By outsiders do you mean that people that move here, buy homes, and pay taxes? Don't forget, we "outsiders" vote. Lastly, if he is against tax increases and has been on the town council he is part of the problem. I want to elect someone who can talk solutions - not reelect someone who seems to only rail against schools and outsiders.
FriendOfEG
5:55 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Mr. Kiernan just got my vote !
tired of it
7:55 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
These comments are unbelievable! How could we elect someone so closed minded to begin with? My heritage includes Native American does that make me more or less of an outsider?
Lynn Krim
8:39 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
The point here is that Mike is working for ALL the taxpayers of EG, trying to keep our real estate taxes down. It appears to me that he is the only one, many times, on the Town Council who takes that into consideration. Which one of you would okay a 3million + dollar project in your business without any guarantees that it would be successful? I don't think Bill Sequino runs this town that way. Let's be fair here.
E.G. Resident
11:00 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Elizabeth, why has this been changed since yesterday? The people of EG deserve to know who they are voting for. Please put back the pieces that were cut, including those about the "Outsiders." For those of you who have questions about Michael Kiernan, I wish you could have seen him in action. The condescending attitude he projects would be enough to compel you to vote against him. Lynn, I disagree that he is working for all of the taxpayers.
Elizabeth McNamara
12:32 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
E.G. Resident,
The story hasn't been changed. The "outsiders" phrase is in the last paragragh. To read his full questionnaire responses, click here: http://patch.com/A-znJ8
FriendOfEG
12:04 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
I moved to this town in 1972. Forty years ago. I'm 67 years old and some of my elderly neighbors still refer to me as "that girl from North Kingstown". Hahaha...I guess that's just how that generation thinks.
Alan Clarke
9:51 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012
There's an old joke: two old geezers were sitting on a park bench.
One says to the other, "How long you lived in this town?"
The other guy says, "I been here about 68 years now."
The first guy say, "Yep, I thought you was a newcomer!"
A joke with a nuance: every town needs new people to replace the ones moving on or dying off. In all my years, I've never heard of anyone, "Townies" that is, making much more than a joke of serious newcomers here to spend the rest of their lives. Less welcome are those who come here for the schools, vote huge school expenses that increase taxes for everyone, and then move on when their youngsters are educated and off to college. Therein lies the contextual misspeak by Mike Kiernan. Yes, it sounds a trifle unwelcoming but in essence it reflects the sad spirit of many of us who have lived here since childhood. The schools, the police station, the desire for a new fire station, the list goes on, the tax increases go on, and a significant number of people have found it too expensive to live here any longer. If the shoes fits, wear it. If you are one of those people moving here to live with no intention of moving away, welcome. If you are just here to educate your children, ready to move on afterward - you are the problem. Stay here, educate your youngsters, but stay out of our politics unless you plan to remain here and help pay off some of the burden you're putting us under. Well not me, of course. I'm one of those old geezers.
Lynn Krim
5:31 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Well said Alan. Wish I had expressed myself better. I just want value for my money and I haven't seen it in the school dept. GO MIKE!
Michael Kiernan
10:55 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
In retrospect, I agree that the phrase "outsiders" was inappropriate and I apologize if I offended anyone by using it. We are all neighbors no matter how long we have lived here and it was wrong of me to charaterize those who have come from other communities as outsiders. That being said, I stand by the rest of my comments. Again, as a reighbor and a person, I am sorry to have offended you with that inappropriate remark.
Michael